Spot lamp



Nov. 1, 1938; H. w. SISSON 2,135,263

SPOT LAMP Filed Oct. 14, 1935 Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED smres PATENT orrice 2,135,263 sPo'r LAMP Harry W. Sisson, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 14, 1935, Serial No. 44,869

6 Claims.

This invention relates to spot-lamps of the type which are mounted to be turned so that the light may be thrown in any desired direction.

The embodiment of the invention selected for illustration is particularly suited for use on motor vehicles and the like, but it is to be understood that the lamp of the present invention may be employed elsewhere as suitable or desired.

The object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved and simplified lamp that may be economically produced, and a structure of pleasing appearance embodying an improved mounting bracket, improved contact means for connecting the lamp bulb to the wire of the light circuit inall positions of the lamp, an improved mounting and insulating arrangement for such contact means, an improved grounding contact arrangement for grounding one side of the lamp bulb, and improved means for holding the lamp in the different positions into which it is turned.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lamp embodying the present invention, partially broken away and partially in section;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is a detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure l; and a Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section showing the contact means for connecting the lamp bulb to the wire of the light circuit in all positions of the lamp, and the improved mounting and insulating arrangement therefor.

The lamp selected for illustration comprises a shell or casing 5 which may be formed of sheet metal or other suitable material. This casing 5 is of generally spherical contour, closed at the back and open at the front, for projection of the light rays therethrough.

The open front of the casing 5 is turned in at 6, and the inner end of this inturned portion 6 is turned radially at I to form an annular flange to which the margin of the lens 8 is clamped by a ring 9 which has threaded engagement with the inturned portion 6. The reflector ID has a marginal flange II also clamped to the flange 1 by ring 9. The lamp bulb I2 is supportedin the focus of the reflector III by a member I3, which member I3 passes through the center of the reflector and is adjustable axially by a threaded stem I4 for focusing or adjusting the position of the bulb I2.

The member I5 is depressed at I5 to conform with the contour of casing 5 which is secured to member I5 by suitable securing means I5. The member I5 has an integral handle H which may be knobbed at its free end at I8, and a curved depression in which fits the cylindrical head I9 of the mounting bracket 20. The opposite sides of the cylindrical head I9 are flat, 10 and the member I5 has flanges 2| depending along these sides and provided with fiat inner surfaces, between which and the flat sides of the head I9, members 22 of suitable friction mate- I rial are interposed. A bolt 23 extends through 5 the flanges 2| and through the axis of head I9 and engages in a nut 24, suitable washers 25 being preferably provided between flanges 2| and the head of the bolt and nut 24. The bolt 23 pivots the lamp for turning movement in a vertical plane, and, with the friction members and washers, provides a smooth movement and for holding the lamp in any position into which it is turned about the axis of bolt 23.

The curved surface of the depression in member I5 for the cylindrical head I9 is faced with suitable insulating material 28, which may be molded in place, and a curved contact member 29 is mounted in the insulating facing material 28 by a screw 30 having its head countersunk in 30 the contact member 29.. The screw 30'and contact member 29 are insulated from lamp casing 5 and member I5, and the shank of the screw passes into casing 5 and has attached thereto, as by means of nuts 32, one wire 33 of the light circuit. The other wire 34 of the light circuit is connected to casing 5 at 35 for grounding, as will hereinafter appear.

The top of the head I9 has a socket 38 in which is disposed a conical coiled spring 39. The 40 enlarged base of this spring seats against the bottom of the socket 38, and the smaller upper end of the spring is centered on and abuts an insulating plunger plate 40 which carries a contact 4|. The contact 4| is insulated from the head I9 and other adjacent parts, and is pressed yieldingly into engagement with contactmember 29. This contact 4| has wiping engagement with contact member 29 for maintaining connection between the wire 42 and the wire 33 of the light circuit in all positions of the lamp. Wire 42 is suitably connected to contact 4| and passes down through the tubular extension 45 of the bracket 20 and through the mounting rotatably mounted in the tubular mounting sleeve or post 46 and to the source of current for the bulb, I2.

The tubular extension 45 of bracket 20 is sleeve or post 46 so that by grasping handle I! the lamp may be turned in a horizontal plane about the axis of tubular extension 45 to any desired position. To provide smooth movement in this direction and for holding the lamp in any position into which it isturned about the axis of tubular extension 45, a sleeve 50 of suitable friction material is preferably interposed between the tubular extension 45 and the upper end, of post 46. In addition, the upper end of post 46 is slotted at a plurality of circumferentially spaced positions as shown at 5|, and a .nut member 52 is' threaded upon the upper end of the post 46. The'threaded engagement between V nut member 52 and the upper end of post 46 is preferably tapered, as shown, so that by thread ing the nut member 52 down upon the post 46 the slotted upper end of the post may be contracted tightly about the tubular extension 45 and intervening friction sleeve 50 to provide the desired smooth movement and for holding the lamp in any position into which it is turned about the axis of tubular extension 45. The enlarged upper end 55 of bracket 22 rests upon the upper end of ,post 46.

In that the desired friction material for the sleeve 50 is usually an insulating material and would insulate tubular extension 45 from post 46, at least partially, I provide for obtaining the desired ground connection by means of contacts .56 secured in the friction sleeve 50 and engaging the inner surface of the post 46 on one side and the outer surface of the tubular extension 45 on the other side. These contacts 56 connect the bracket 20 to post '46, and the bracket 20 being connected through bolt 23 to member l5, which is connected through the lamp'casing 5 to ground wire34 at 35, grounds the wire 34 of the light circuit.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown or described.

I claim:

1.In combination, a lamp casing, a member attached to said casing and having a. curved depression, a handle on said member, an insulating element for the curved surface of said depression,

' 2, In combination, a lamp casing, a member attached to said casing and having a curved depression, a handle on said member, an insulating element for the curved surface of saiddepression, a curved contactmember mounted in said depression and insulated by said'ele'ment, ,a bracket having a cylindrical head fitting in said depression, said member having flanges, disposed at opposite sides of said head, a pivot member passing through said flanges and said head for pivoting the casing for turning movement on said head, a contact member carried by said head and yieldingly engageable' with said curved contact member throughout the various positions into which said casing is turned with respect to said head, and friction members between said flanges and the opposite sides of said head.

3. In combination, a lamp casing, a member at tached to said casing and having a curved depression, a handle on said member, an insulating element for the curved surface of said depression,

a curved contact member mounted in said depression and insulated by said element, a bracket having a cylindrical head fitting in said depression, said member having flanges disposed at opposite sides of said head, a pivot member passoting the casing for turning movement on said head, said head having a socket, an insulating ing through said flanges and said head for piving said curved contact member throughout the a various positions into which said casing is turned 7 with respect to said head.

4.In combination, a lamp casing, a member attached to said casing and having a curved depression, a. handle on said member, an insulating element for the curved surface of said depression, a curved contact member mountedin said depression and insulated by said element, a,

bracket having a cylindrical head fitting in said depression, said member having flanges disposed at opposite sides of said head, a pivot mem ber passing through said flanges and said head for pivoting the casing for turningmovement on said head, a contact, carried by, said head and yieldingly engageable with said curved contact member throughout the various positions into which said casing is turnedwith respect to said head, a tubular post, said bracket having a tubular extension fitting telescopically in said post and rotatable therein, and a sleeve of friction material between said tubular extension and said post.

5. In combination, a lamp casing, a member attached to said casing and having a curved depression, a handle on said member, an insulating element for the curved surface of said depression, a curved contact member mounted in said depression and insulated by said element, ,a bracket having a cylindrical head fitting in said depression, said member having flanges disposed at opposite sides of said head, a pivot member passing through said flanges and said head for pivoting the casing for turning movement on said head, a contact carried by said head and V,

yieldingly engageable with said curved contact member throughout the various positions into which said casing is turned with respect to said head, a tubular post having a slotted end, a tubular extension on said bracket'and fitting telescopically in said post for rotation therein, and a nut member having. threaded engagement with the slotted end of said post, said threaded engagement being tapered whereby threading of said nutmember on said post contracts the slotted end of the post into gripping engagement with said tubular extension. 7 V

V 6.1m combination, a lamp casing, a first "bracket member attached to said casing and having a curved depression, a handle on said bracket member, a second bracketymemher having a cylindrical head fitting in said depression with its curved periphery cooperating with said curved depressiomsaid first bracket member flanges disposed at opposite sides of said head, a pivot member passing through said flanges and said head for pivoting the casing for turning movement on said head, an insulating element for the curved surface of one of said first and second bracket members, a curved contact mounted on the bracket member provided with said insulating element and insulated by said element, and a contact carried by the other of said first and second bracket members and yieldably engageabie with said curved contact element throughout the various positions into which said casing is turned with 5 respect to said head.

HARRY W. SISSON. 

